Safety-clutch for door-operating mechanisms.



PATBNTED SEPT. 10, 1907 c. A. LINDSTRGM. SAFETY CLUTCH FOR DOOR OPERATING MEG HANISMSL APPLICATION FILED JAN, 11, 1907.

INVENTOR CCMQ "ii/L messes UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLESA. LINDSTR SAFETY-CLUTCH FOR DOORsOPERATING MECHANISMS.

Original application filed June 16; 1906, Serial To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. Llhnsrnom, of

, tional view showing the clutch; and Fig. 3 is a detail view also showing the clutch.

This application is a division of application Serial NO. 321,794, filed June 15th, 1906.

The invention has relation to a safety device or clutch for use in connection with freight car dropdoor operating mechanism; and has-for its object the provision of a simple and effective device of this char-.

Y actor which is arranged to operate to permit the dooroperating quadrant or crank shaft to be released to open the doors, after which such quadrant or crank is free to move without effect upon the operatingshaft to which the wrench is attached, thereby obviating the danger or injury by reason of the revolution of the wrench by,a sudden rotation of the.quadrant or crank arm, due to the opening of the doors.

My inve'ntionis applicable to various forms of dropdoor operating mechanism, one of which will now be described.

In the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the dropdoor of a car which is connected by a rod or link 3 with the crank 4 of an operating shaft 51 The shaft 5 is journaled at its outer end portion in bearings of a bracket 7, and its inner end portion is loosely journaled in the crank-carrying member 8 which is provided with a suitable bearing 9 in the car under-frame. The member 8 which carries the crank 4 is formed with a clutch lug 10 which is adapted to engage with a similar lug 11 carried by a clutch member 12 which is rigidly secured to the shaft 5: v

13 is the usual safety pawl, which is arranged to engage a lug or tooth 14 on a collar 15 rigidly secured to the outer projecting end portion of the shaft 5. The purpose of this pawl is to insure the locking of the door in closed position. This locking is, however, effected mainly by the crank 4 coming to and below the center line of the shaft 5 when the door is closed, as shown in Fig. 1. v

15 designates the usual safety dog, which locks the pawl 13 in engagement with the tooth 14. One or more additional teeth 16 may be provided on the collar 15 to assist in closing the door by permitting the Specification of Letters Patent.

clutch portion arranged tmeugage the first named clutch (in, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

No. 321,794. Divided and this application filed January 11, 1907. Serial No. 851,820.

operator to change the position of his wrench, if desired. This wrench is applied to the squared-end portion 5 of the shaft 5. p w

To'open the door, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the dog 15 is knocked out, and if the pawl 13 cannot then be lifted out of engagementwith the tooth 14 by reason of the load resting on it, the I operator engages his wrench with the'squared portion 5 of the shaft 5, and turns said shaft backwardly until the crank arm 4 is carried by the center. This takes the whole load off the pawl 13, which can now be disengaged'without the door opening. 'The operator now turns the shaft 5 in the opposite direction until the lug 11 engages with the other side of the lug 10,- and con tinues toturn sufliciently-to raise the crank arm 4 by the center line of the shaft 5. Theload acting on the door now opens the latter and causes a partial revolution of the crank arm 4' without turning the shaft 5, the lug'l0 moving away from the lug 11. Therefore, no matter how quickly the load may act upon'the door after the latter has been released, there is no danger. 1

to the operator, who can remove his wrench at leisure.

Various changes may be made in the detailsof construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention, since What I claim is:-

1. In car door operating mechanism; a door-operating crank having a clutch-member forming a part thereof, an lndependent'shaft loosely connected with the clutch memher and carrying a cooperating clutch-member, and means for operating the shaft; substantially as described.

2. In car door operating mechanism, a door operating crank having a clutch member fixed thereto, an operating shaft loosely journaled in the hub portion of the crank and carrying a cooperating clutch member, and means for operating the shaft; substantially as described.

3. in car door operating mechanism, a door-operating member normally connected with the door to be operated,

an operating shaft journhied in such member, nnd'clutch devices forming a connection between said shaft and operating member and arranged to permit independent movements of the shaft and the member; substantially as described.

4. In curdoor-operating mechanism n door-opernting member, an independent operating shaft for such member, and a clutch connection between the member and shaft wherehy the shaft may remain stationary during thedo'or opening movement of the member scribed.

5. In car door operating mechanism, a door-operating crank, a shaft and cooperating clutch members carried by the crank and the shaft respectively, and arranged to permit the crank tomove independentlybf the shaft substantially as described. I

6. In car door operating mechanism, a, door operating substhntially us (let:

qnemher normally connected with the door tob'e operated and having a clutchportion, a shaft having a cooperating portion in both directions of movement of the shaft, with an intervening lost motion, and means for operating the shzift; substantially as described.

' 7. in car door vperatingrmechanism, a dooroperating member normally connected with the door to be op erated and having; a clutch portion. a shaft having a cooperating clutch portion arranged to engage the first named clutch portion in both directions of movement of the shaft, with an intervening lost motion, means for operating the shaft, and dogging means for the shaft; substantialiy as described. 4

8. In car door operating mechanism, a door-operating member, andan operating shaft therefor to initiate the movement of said member and journaled in said member, and clutch devices whereby the shaft remains stationary after initiating such movement; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES A. LINDSTRUM.

\ Witnesses:

K. L. ROBINSON,

, H. B. FISHER. 

